For the first time in a very long while, it was raining in Pyrite Town.
There was no doubt that this was the work of the Dragon Tamers. They had dispersed the acidic smog that usually clung to the sky above the town toward uninhabited wastes and beckoned clean rain clouds to wash over the ruins of the earth.
The heavy rain slowly extinguished the lingering fires and called forth a sense of vitality in the hearts of the common folk. To the civilians, the high-and-mighty Trainers of the past would never have done such a thing; those people only cared for themselves, and if their interests were ever damaged, they simply bled the poor to make up the difference.
The Resistance was different.
The members of this organization came from among them. They weren't just tall, burly men or fierce women; even the small or the physically weak were part of the cause.
The dark, endless mines and the once-prosperous Underdome were shut down. Even the surface-level casinos and "entertainment" parlors were not spared. Smelters and mines that once demanded sixteen hours of labor a day shifted to an eight-hour workday—and wages didn't drop; they rose.
There were no more exorbitant "protection fees" or "tributes" to pay. The new taxes were laughably low in comparison. Furthermore, the Resistance helped rebuild collapsed homes at extremely low costs, provided free medical care, and rescued family members buried under rubble... they even ordered the former power-holders to labor on the construction sites.
Perhaps most joyfully, Pokémon—once seen as unreachable tools of oppression—began to appear naturally among the people, working alongside them to help.
But most importantly, they could eat their fill. They could finally secure the assets that rightfully belonged to them.
Not everything was perfect, however. To many civilians, the Resistance's requirement that everyone learn to read and write was a bit of a tall order. Literacy wasn't exactly a survival skill in the old Orre—or so they thought. But as the Resistance rolled out new job opportunities, they found that every position had a strict literacy requirement.
"How many days of classes have you attended? How many characters do you know?" The precision of the requirements forced them to study those strange "shapes" with all their might, lest their coveted job opportunities be snatched away by someone else.
Under the washing rain, Pyrite Town hummed with a brand-new life.
-----
Meanwhile, Kashiwagi was enduring an incredibly awkward scene.
A group of caped Dragon Tamers was huddled around the wooden plaque he had "manufactured," studying it with intense scrutiny. Takeshi was jumping around nearby, tossing in his own two cents and distracting Kashiwagi so much that he couldn't even focus on his conversation with Steven Stone.
"It seems I didn't pick the best time for a chat."
Steven didn't seem to mind Kashiwagi's distracted behavior; this was just a casual after-dinner conversation, after all. He smiled. "Regardless, I must thank you for the wonderful hospitality."
To entertain the guests who had traveled so far to help, Kashiwagi had temporarily stepped away from his role as a Trainer. He had donned the hat of a professional chef to prepare an enormous feast as a way of giving back. For Steven and the others, eating such a gourmet meal after a grueling battle was a massive morale booster.
"No, no, compared to the help you provided, Steven-san, a meal is nothing." Kashiwagi waved his hands dismissively.
Drake had gone to rest after dinner. While his spirit was young, long-term combat was a heavy burden on an elderly man.
According to Drake's crew, the old man wasn't actually exhausted from the fight; he was just unaccustomed to being on land for so long, especially in a desolate inland town with no seawater or greenery. A bit of rest would set him right.
"Well, please don't mind me. Pyrite Town may be barren, but the atmosphere of humans and Pokémon working together here is truly wonderful." Steven stood up, clearly planning to head out.
"Besides, I've heard this place is rich in various metals. I wonder if there are any rare stones for me to find. My collector's urge is driving me toward the mines."
With that, the Champion departed. Judging by his casual attire, he had likely planned this excursion long ago.
Kashiwagi wanted to go with him but felt trapped. He sat there using his left hand to stroke Deino's fur while the little dragon nibbled on his right hand.
Every time he tried to slip away, Takeshi would suddenly shout, "Kashiwagi, where are you going?" causing all the Dragon Tamers to snap their heads in his direction.
It was terrifying.
Returning to the sofa, he watched Mawile sip on some black tea. Someone had tucked several tins of tea leaves into the relief supplies. Yamamino had dropped them off at Kashiwagi's place, and Aggron had been the one to find them—the great beast had smelled the scent of dried plants and, thinking some idiot had brought its "trees" inside to burn, had rushed in only to find tea.
Kashiwagi had brewed a few cups as an experiment. No one else wanted a second cup, but Mawile had fallen in love with the rich, bold flavor. She had claimed the tea as her private property and asked Kashiwagi to brew it for her every day. Naturally, he obliged.
"Sigh... I should have gone to find N."
N and his sisters were still busy caring for the Pokémon. The number of liberated creatures easily exceeded ten thousand. N was desperate to find them proper homes rather than keeping them cooped up in Poké Balls.
However, given Pyrite Town's current environment, while Rock, Ground, Steel, Fire, and Grass-types could manage, it was hostile to Ice, Bug, and Water-types. Moreover, many Pokémon had complex dual-typings. Creating a multi-environment sanctuary was a necessity.
Of course, a project of that scale wouldn't be finished in a day. N knew that building such a place required the help of humans, so he encouraged the Pokémon to help the people of Pyrite Town first—a cycle of mutual aid. With Yamamino around, Kashiwagi was confident the townspeople wouldn't forget the debt they owed.
Kashiwagi sent a silent blessing to the man who had found his calling, believing he could create a beautiful kingdom for Pokémon in Orre.
As he was musing, the group of Dragon Tamers approached him.
"Where did you get this plaque?" one of them asked with a friendly smile.
"My father left it to me."
Kashiwagi had no idea if they realized the plaque was brand new. Regardless, he stuck to his story: someone gave it to him, and he knew nothing else. He certainly couldn't say he made it himself; that would be even harder to explain.
"When your father gave this to you, did he ever mention your grandfather or your ancestors?" the man continued.
Kashiwagi shook his head. "I was very young then. I really don't remember. Is there a problem with the plaque?"
The Dragon Tamers exchanged glances. "We've found that the wood of this plaque is no more than twenty years old... but the style is from over a hundred years ago."
"—How long?" Kashiwagi was stunned.
"Over a hundred years," someone repeated, thinking he hadn't heard. "The Dragon People have a habit of spreading across the world. It's not that strange for someone to have ended up in Orre..."
"We contacted the elders back at Meteor Falls to cross-reference the genealogy. Indeed, over a hundred years ago, many Dragon Tamers left and never returned. It's likely one of them was your ancestor. As for this plaque, your father probably broke the original and made this replica."
The group of Dragon Tamers laughed heartily.
They actually found a way to make it make sense!?
Kashiwagi was floored. He didn't understand why they were so determined to prove he was one of them that they were filling in the plot holes themselves.
"So... I'm not a 'hundred-percent' Dragon Person?" he asked tentatively.
"Not at all! We don't care about 'pure blood' nonsense. If you are a descendant of the Dragon People, you are a Dragon Tamer," an elder said with a chuckle. He looked down at Deino. "You've raised this Deino well. Strong limbs, sturdy build... and most importantly, it can control the force of its bite. That's a difficult feat for a dragon."
"Indeed."
"Wait... is this white fur dyed?"
"You only have one Dragon-type? You need to catch a few more to be a real Dragon Tamer!"
"If you don't mind, come find me at Meteor Falls sometime. I have a few dragons at home I could entrust to your care."
The conversation continued as they fully "canonized" Kashiwagi's lineage and origins.
Kashiwagi responded with awkward smiles, his heart thumping in his chest. Nearby, Takeshi was still shouting, "Haxorus! How can a Dragon Tamer not raise a Haxorus? Look at those sharp tusks! Look at that powerful tail! Can any other dragon even compare?"
"Good lad! I like your arrogance! Let's see how you handle my partner!"
With those words, the others began tossing out Poké Balls, releasing various Dragon-type Pokémon to show off. Someone even brought out a Gyarados and a Charizard. The room was quickly becoming very, very crowded.